The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly challenging image protection, as IoT devices often possess limited resources and must process data efficiently. The lightweight image encryption technique presented in this manuscript uses Cellular Automata Rule vector and the Tinkerbell map to provide data protection through a cellular automata method within the same process flow for two specific reasons. Firstly, it aims to offer data protection with an efficient data processing scheme. This encryption approach involves separating the image into its red, green, and blue (RGB) components. The process first performs image encryption using the Tinkerbell map, followed by Cellular Automata-based encryption, which adds further diffusion. The proposed method successfully implemented the combinatory image encryption method, achieving a strong encryption process with an NPCR of 99.6261 and a UACI of 49.86. Both values indicate that the method provides a high level of security. Given the method’s capacity, it can be classified as an efficient and straightforward approach and is particularly valuable for future IoT studies. Further studies would also investigate alternative solutions using different cryptosystems. Researchers can similarly work on mapping the method to other IoT platforms and meeting the needs of scalability and safety.